The Wesley Players - The Hollow

Priory Methodist Church Thursday 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th November 1977

The action of the play passes in the garden, room of Sir Henry Angkatell's house, 'The Hollow', about eighteen miles from London.

ACT ONE		A Friday afternoon in early September

ACT TWO	Scene One	Saturday morning
	Scene Two	Later the same day

ACT THREE		The Following Monday morning

The lights are lowered during Act Three to denote the passing of one hour.

TIME: THE PRESENT

The reputation of Agatha Christie is well known as a writer of thrillers, both in book and play form and any railway bookstall is sure to have at least one of her novels among its stock of journey reading material. The constant appeal of her work is evidenced by the fact that so many books and plays have been transferred, and successfully, to the cinema, the last in the line being, 'Murder on the Orient Express', where so many very famous names in the cinema were very pleased to be associated with the presentation. 'The Hollow' was first presented at the Fortune Theatre, London, on 7th June, 1951, with Jeanne de Casalis being among the cast names - there is no prize for guessing which character she played. There are a number of clues dropped en route through the play to assist, or confuse the would-be detective, and for the benefit of all the audience, Justice is seen to be done.

Extract from The Bedfordshire Times November 1977

All the tension of Christie thriller

CRIME and church seem an unlikely mixture but they merged well on Thursday-when the Wesley Players performed an Agatha Christie whodunnit at Priory Methodist church, Bedford

The Hollow is a detective thriller in typical Christie mould with plenty of suspense, mystery and dry humour. The Wesley Players, a group of amateur dramatic enthusiasts from Bedford's Methodist circuit, succeeed in creating an atmosphere of tension.

The intricate plot taxed the mind with its infuriating hints as to the identity of the murderer but everyone likes to be a detective and so was involved rightt-to the end.

Graham Bossom as the ill-fated Dr Cristow was so skilful at being selfish, anibitious and cynical that I was glad when he was shot. Susan Baker'supplied a dash of glamour as the preening film-star, Veronica Craye. Frances Yunie was superb as the snivelling, down-trodden doctor's wife who, contrary to my guess, turned out to be the murderess.

My money had been on the eccentric, busy-bodying Lady Angkatell who was played by Iva Barr. She constantly

amused by her amazing turns of affectation and a bouquet forthe best performance must be awarded to her.

The set was simple but credible with all the action taking place in the garden room of a country house. The sound effects were a little-weak -- I thought I heard the noise of a parrot being strangled though I think it was probably mean to be a car drawing up on the drive outside.

But overall this was a very creditable performance especially for the first night. It was certainly well worth 50 pence.

The rest of the cast was: Joy Newbold as the calculating Henrietta Angkatell, Don Edwards as the genial Sir Henry Angkatell, Gill Lees as the homely Midge Harvey, Peter Beck as the impeccable butler, Gudgeon, Jo-Ann Cartwright as the flirty Doris, Clive Argent as the intrepid Inspector Colquhoun and Stephen Gaunt as the ineffectual Detective Sergeant Penny. The play was produced by Peter Beck.

K.B.

THE HOLLOW by Agatha Christie

THE HOLLOW
by Agatha Christie